River of No Return

(Otto Preminger, US 1954, 91 min., 35mm)

Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe costar in this rugged, western outdoor adventure/love story. Mitchum plays Matt Calder, just released from prison for defending a friend and in search of the son he left behind. He finds his son in a mining tent city, where he has been left in the care of Kay (Monroe), an ambitious saloon singer. When Kay’s fiancé betrays the three and leaves them defenseless, they begin their treacherous journey down the river on the raft that has been left behind. Making extensive use of the Cinemascope frame for both vistas and action, the wide screen is countered by the relationships, as the three get to know and trust each other.